The Basic Pattern - Adam’s Family

The Basic Pattern - Adam’s Family

In Adam’s family Abel laid the foundation of faith. That has been explained above.

However, the most interesting part in Adam’s family is the detailed explanation that the Principle gives here concerning the separation from Satan through the Cain-Abel relationship.

Separation of Good and Evil

As explained before, God does not deal with evil directly. The Principle says that he only deals with a realm that has been separated from evil.

The texts don’t say clearly how this separation occurs, but there are apparently two ways how that happens.

First, good and evil are antagonistic. Either one wins over the other or they separate. That seems to be the case in many of the historical developments that are described in the second part of the Principle.

Then, in relation to central important events in the history of recreation, certain people are put in a ‘position of good’ and others in a ‘position of evil’. People in the position of good that need to accomplish a providential task are also called ‘central figures’. Occasionally, the term is also applied to individuals representing the evil side. For example, Hitler and Stalin are called ‘central figures on the Satanic side’.

On the side of good the second son is in the position of good while the first born son takes the position of evil. The position doesn’t say much about the character or value of that person. It’s just a starting point.

After the fall all human beings are in a ‘midway position’, neither really good nor completely evil. Thus next, the person that should stand in the position of goodness has to make some effort to get out of the midway position into the direction of goodness. Then God’s side – unfallen angels, good spirits and God himself – can deal with the person more than Satan.

In Adam’s family, Abel was in the position of being good. He must have made some effort to get out of the midway position, but the Bible doesn’t mention it.  But Abel’s offering was accepted by God.

The offering of Abel and its acceptance by God accomplished the foundation of faith in Adam’s family. That was half the rent, so to speak, in order to receive the messiah.